Morgan, Guy Williams Stuart

Son of Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Williams Morgan and Annie Blanche Morgan of Bolgoed, near Brecon. He was a House prefect and a member of Commoner XV and also showed promise as a long distance runner. In 1913 he went to Christ Church, Oxford and on the oubreak of war was admitted to Sandhurst.

Subsequently he joined 1st Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers and was posted to France. During the 12 months of his service at the front, he was wounded twice. His battalion was involved in the first day of the Battle of Loos, during which Morgan was killed. His division was to attack eastwards from the Vermelles area towards Cite St Elie, with the attacking troops having to cross 400 yards of open ground before they reached the German “Quarry Trench”. By 4 in the morning the British guns were firing the heaviest bombardment of the war so far and shortly after that poison gas and smoke bombs were released. However, as soon as the Brigade’s leading battalions left their trenches, they were mown down by German machine gun fire. Morgan’s battalion, part of 22 Brigade, were cut down in large numbers. Individual acts of heroism turned the tide. A VC was awarded to a Private of the Royal Warwickshires for cutting the German wire in two place, so the advance could continue, although the gaps in the wire were highly dangerous. The Germans concentrated their fire on them as the British troops congregated to get through. The advance continued and by 8.45 British troops were crossing the Lens road and by 9.30 had captured the Hulluch Quarries, but they were no longer a viable unit and further advance was impossible.

Morgan was killed at some point in this attack, being one of 442 casualties, either killed, wounded or missing, of 1st Royal Welch Fusiliers. Nine Wykehamists died that day at Loos, making it the single worst day of the war to that point for the College.

War: World War 1

Surname:
Morgan

Forenames or initials:
Guy Williams Stuart

House:
H

Years in School:
1908-1913

Rank:
Captain

Regiment:
Royal Welch Fusiliers

Date of Birth:
9th April 1895

Date of Death:
25th September 1915

How Died:
Killed in action

Location in War Cloister:
Outer E5

Decoration:
NA

Burial Site:
Unknown but commemorated on Panels 50-52 of the LOOS MEMORIAL